Patent GB-159273-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to machines for gathering and loading coal and other materials
IPC: B65G65/00
Filed: 1919-11-19
Abstract: 159,273. Jones, J. E., Newdick, N. A., and Moody, W. E. Nov. 19, 1919. Directing and adjustably supporting endless-chain conveyers; discharging and feeding devices; driving-gear; portable conveyers; guards and shields; push-plate conveyers; push-plates, construction of.-Relates to conveyer apparatus for gathering coal from the working face in mines &c. and transferring it to a wagon and comprises a gathering conveyer on a truck which is coupled to a second truck carrying a loading conveyer which discharges into a wagon. The front truck 5 is provided with a frame 13 directly supporting the gathering conveyer 20 and having a rearwardly extending arm 16 carrying a socket for a pivot about which the conveyer can swing. The endless-chain of the conveyer has front and rear horizontal portions and a middle inclined portion, the chain arms 31, Fig. 11, having projecting ends 31a and alternate arms carry plates 299, breakable under excessive strain, the guide engaging ends of the arms having a pair of rollers 36. The rear sprocket of the endless chain is driven bv a mctor 48 and gearing including a multiple disc clutch which allows slip under abnormal strain. The truck 5, Fig. 4, carries a motor 77 which drives a counter shaft 83 through sprocket gearing, the shaft being connected by sprocket gearing and a clutch to the rear axle of the truck for quick travel about the mine. The shaft 83 is also connected by clutches and sprocket and worm gearing 112 to a sleeve 113 on the front axle of the truck. The sleeve is connected by a clutch to the front axle of the truck for a slow feeding movement into the heap of coal, the sleeve also carrying a pair of clutches which can be engaged as required with winding drums carrying chains passing over anchored guide pulleys and connected to the front end of the ccnveyer for swinging it from side to side. Interlocking mechanism is provided for these driving mechanisms to prevent damage through the simultaneous operation of, say, the slow and quick driving gears. The loading conveyer is mounted upon the rear truck 193, Fig. 19, which is coupled to the front truck, the adjacent ends having curved faces to ubviate displacement of the pivotal connection when the trucks are disaligned. The loading conveyer has a hopper 211 with cut-away ends fitted with sliding plates 226, into which the discharge end of the gathering conveyer projects, the endless chain 215 passing over sprockets 219, the rear sprockets being carried by a shaft 218, Fig. 1, driven by a motor 231 through gearing 234 and shaft 243. The loading conveyer is adjusted vertically by toggle levers 267, Fig. 20, screw gearing 272, and handwheel 279 and is adjusted laterally by handwheels 283 and gearing 281 engaging an arcuate rack. A lever 304 controls clutch gearing 303 which enables the sprocket shaft 218 to drive a drum and wind in a chain 309 connected to the wagon 213 to move the wagon to ensure even loading. To loosen and so feed the coal on to the gathering conveyer, the conveyer 20, Fig. 23, may be fitted with an operator's seat 340 from which by means of handles 345 he can control a rotary pick 333 mounted on a telescopic and swivelling support 328 and driven by gearing 313 from the sprocket 38 of the conveyer.